Neely Spence and Carly Seymour make their first Foot Locker Finals experience a top 10 kind of day. Paul Springer has an off day... but is already looking ahead to indoor, outdoor, and more PRs.
At 1/2 mile, Seymour is visible in the center. (photo by John Herzog, MileSplit Network)
Home-schooled Neely Spence and Central Cambria's Carly Seymour, both juniors, didn't get the start they wanted in what they hope is their first Foot Locker Finals. But they did get the kind of finish they'll remember for a lifetime.
They got boxed in. "The Northeast team was on the far left, and I felt we were in the right position" Spence says. "But all the girls came from the right and it narrows quickly, so we weren't able to pass." Seymour had had a similar experience at the Northeast Regional two weeks prior when she was farther back than planned and knew she could make up ground if she was just patient.
At 2 miles, Seymour is a few seconds ahead of Spence.(photo by John Herzog, MileSplit Network)
The two Pennsylvania stars were aware of each other as they came back by the start at a half mile. Neither panicked. "We weren't that far behind, and I didn't want to get beaten down by the pace," Seymour says.
The two started working together, winding their way from the 20-somethings toward the top half of the race.
At the mile, the course takes a turn up its only challenging hill, and loops across a plateau before descending the hill and returning to the start/finish at 1.5 miles. By two miles as they came by the start/finish again, Seymour had pulled ahead of Spence. As she approached the bottom of the hill for the second climb, Seymour started her final push and moved past more runners. By the top of the hill, Spence had Seymour in sight again, and used her downhill skills to close the gap. The two were in the final half mile of the biggest race of their lives. A race which as it turns out, was going to become one of the best.
Seymour says she heard people yelling "you're 8, you're 9" and suddenly realized she had a chance of finishing in the top ten. "I had told people that top 20 would be cool, but top 10, that would be crazy. I started thinking 'I hope no one passes me,'" She and Spence headed for the slight incline that turns toward the finish and spotted 2005 champion Jordan Hasay of California, just ahead.
Spence had the slightly better kick of the two Pennsylvanians on this day, and passed both Hasay and Seymour over the final few meters. Seymour was right on Spence's shoulder, and both were credited with the same time of 18:13. Hasay finished 10th. Spence says the two celebrated almost immediately after crossing the line, "hugging and screaming."
Spence has dreamt of racing at Foot Lockers for years, and has seen the videos of many of the races more than a few times. She was especially grateful for her dad's company on the trip west. "He came to the parent's thing, and he was out on the course yelling instructions. That helped a lot." She also credited her CVAC (Cumberland Valley Athletic Club) and Shippensburg High School teammates for their support. "They are so happy with my success. It just makes me want to work harder."
Her goal of a top 10 finish was now a reality. "That was an amazing honor, especially since my original goal this year was a top 10 at the regional."
At the finish, Spence has just passed Seymour
and defending champ Jordan Hasay.
Spence and Seymour each clock 18:13.
(photo by John Herzog, MileSplit Network)
While Spence has been quickly adapting to her rise to the nation's elite level, Seymour's trip has been a bit overwhelming at times. "I got really freaked out during the introductions, hearing about all the championships and records of the other girls." She needed some support, and she found it in US Olympian Shalane Flanagan, who was serving as the Northeast team captain. Flanagan was standing with the girls as they waited to be introduced. Seymour says she turned to Flanagan and told her she felt like she was going to be sick. "She gave me a hug and said 'you'd better get used to this'." Seymour obviously adjusted. "Once I start running, by confidence comes back, because I know what I'm doing."
Seymour hopes that a few more PA girls can join she and Spence as they try to return in a year. While her rise to the elite level was a big step this year, she thinks the jump she took from 9th to 10th grade when she won a state cross country title was a bigger one. "You just grow with age. You can fight the stress, or embrace it. I embrace it."
As for the famous Balboa Park hill, Seymour was not overly impressed. She lives in the mountains near Ebensburg, south of Altoona. "My house is on a hill they call 'Suicide Hill.' When I go for a run I could go around it, but why would I do that?"
Spence will resume base training in January and is aiming for the 2-mile at the Nike Outdoor Nationals in June. After a short break, Seymour will race once or twice indoors for the experience.
XC Training Overviews
Neely Spence
40-50 a week. (using minutes as a gauge)
Sunday or Monday: Long run of up to 90 minutes
Before a meet, drop that down to 75 minutes
Speed once a week - track or grass (favorite is 12 x 400)
(recent one before FL NE included 78-80, last three were 76-74)
Rest day
Easy days in betwen of 50-60 minutes
Race or hard workout
Interval work includes mile repeats (3 x mile, 5:35, and continually dropping, 5:30, 5:20)
6 minute recovery (did that once between NRCC and NE FL)
Carly Seymour
Not high mileage. Doesn't keep track of mileage. "Do what my coach tells me."
Generally includes a long run. a track workout, and tempo runs.
"I do them pretty hard."
Paul Springer has an off day... but is already looking ahead to indoor, ourdoor, and more PRs.
Paul Springer early in the race.(photo by John Herzog, MileSplit Network)
Waking up in a luxury hotel that looks out on the Pacific Ocean should bring a smile to anyone's face. But if you're gearing up for the biggest race of your life and you awake with a fever and neck soreness, the smile is gone almost immediately.
That's exactly how the day of his one and only Foot Locker Finals greeted Unionville senior Paul Springer.
He brushed it off though, and went about his normal routine. "My warm-up was good, so I was hoping I was OK."
He was, but for only about half the race. "I was just four seconds back of the lead pack at a mile-and-a-half and my legs felt great. But then I started getting sick." His stomach cramped. His head started to ache. And he quickly lost touch with the leaders and any hope of finishing in the top 10.
Springer was fairly sure that he was fighting a bug of some kind, because he says his legs felt fine even when he was feeling ill. "That was the hardest race I ever had. But I made it there, so that is awesome."
Springer had promised all season that he would be in San Diego. He made it. He also had predicted that he would go under 14:50 at Lehigh if the weather cooperated and his competitors raced hard. He ran 14:47. So just hours after the disappointment of Foot Lockers, Springer was already looking confidently ahead. His goals for indoor include sub-14:30 in the 5K at NSIC in March, and a sub 8:45 2-mile and 4:08 mile in the spring.
He's taking a week off and then doing a mile and an 800 at Susquehanna and Lehigh, although plans aren't yet final. He also hopes to make a choice between the HS Boys Mile or the Olympic Development 5K at the Penn Relays.
College visits have been completed to Duke and Notre Dame. Visits are planned for Virginia and Oregon, and the final of his allotted five is yet to be determined.
Get well soon Paul.
Carly Seymour's finish.
(photo by John Herzog, MileSplit Network)
Brandon Mile's post-race interview with Neely Spence and Carly SeymourMileSplit Video of both race - by Brandon Miles
Story on Neely Spence in the Carlisle Sentinel
Story on Carly Seymour in the Altoona Mirror
Story on Paul Springer in the Philadelphia Inquirer